United Kingdom 
Hi, anyone know how to plant sweet potatoes? I have five ready to go into the ground, and a huge bag for potatoes to be planted in, but what I need to know is...Do I need to support them with a 'collar' such as a pop bottle, or can I just plant them and earth them up as they grow, like normal potatoes? They are very long and 'skinny', one could almost say stringy, hence the question. Thanks so much for any advice.
Stormeelaydee
20 Jun, 2011
Answers
Sweet Potatoes need a long (3-4 months), warm, growing season, so they may be easier in a greenhouse or polytunnel, than on an open patio. They are also easier to start from rooted sprouts than from pieces of tuber. The tubers don't start forming until the nights start to get longer than the days, around September 21st. Rich, well drained, fertile soil is esssential, and they like to be earthed up just like regular potatoes.
21 Jun, 2011
I've a feeling they would be a challenge in most of the UK
21 Jun, 2011
Yeah! Getting them warm enough soon enough in the spring, and keeping them warm enough, long enough into the fall will be hard outside of the mildest areas.
22 Jun, 2011
Hi Stormeelaydee and welcome to GoY. I haven't actually grown sweet potatoes myself but if you copy and paste the link below into your web browser it will give you the RHS info on growing.
http://bit.ly/fARonv
20 Jun, 2011